Lunch box

ABSTRACT

A lunch box ( 10 ) comprising a first container ( 12 ) and a second container ( 14 ) where one or more hands ( 16 ) are provided connecting the first and second containers ( 12, 14 ) such that the first and second containers are rotatable relative to each other to a plurality of positions.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a lunch box.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Children at school generally carry food in a lunch box. Usually food is carried for the child to eat during a lunchtime period, as well as at least one further recess period.

The present invention relates to a lunch box having an arrangement suitable for providing separate storage for food to be consumed at more than one time period, such as at lunch and at recess. The lunch box is also aimed at providing an interesting modifiable configuration to be appealing to children.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a lunch box comprising:

-   -   first and second containers each including first and second         opposed side walls and first and second opposed edge walls         extending between the first and second side walls;     -   a first band having a first end thereof connected to the second         container at a location adjacent the junction between the second         side wall and the first edge wall and a second end thereof         connected to the first container adjacent the junction between         the second side wall and the second edge wall;     -   a pair of second band located either side of the first bands,         each second band having a first end connected to the first         container adjacent the junction between first side wall and the         first edge wall and a second end connected to the second         container adjacent the junction between the first side wall and         the second edge wall; and     -   one or more lids provided on each of the first and second side         walls of the first container; and     -   one or more lids provided on each of the first and second side         walls of the second container;     -   when the first and second containers can be rotated through a         first side by side configuration, a first edgewise         configuration, a second side by side configuration and a second         edgewise configuration.

Preferably the length of each of the first and second bands is the width of one of the containers between the first and second edge walls plus the depth of one of the containers, such that each of the first and second bands can extend across one of either the first or second side walls and one of the first or second edge walls.

In one embodiment, each of the first and second containers includes one or more internal walls to divide the interior of the container into a plurality of chambers.

There is preferably provided a pair of internal walls extending from the first edge wall to the second edge wall such that there is defined a central chamber and first and second side chambers.

In one embodiment, the first and second containers each comprise a rectangular prism such that the first and second containers also include third and fourth edge walls extending between ends of the first and second edge walls.

In a preferred embodiment, each of the first and second containers further include:

-   -   a central lid provided in the first side wall pivotable about a         side adjacent the second edge wall such that the central lid can         be pivoted to provide access to the central chamber; and     -   first and second side lids provided in the second side wall         pivotable to provide access to the first and second side         chambers.

Preferably the first side lid therefore pivots outwardly about the edge thereof adjacent the third edge wall and the second side lid pivots outwardly about the edge thereof adjacent the fourth edge wall.

Preferably the first band extends across the first side wall centrally across the central lid, or across the second side wall centrally between the first and second side lids and the second bands either across the first side wall on a side of the central lid or across the second side wall across one of the first or second side lids.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the following drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an upper perspective view of a lunch box in accordance with the present invention with the first and second containers in a first side by side configuration;

FIG. 2 a is a bottom view of the lunch box of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 b is an end view of the lunch box of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an upper perspective view of the lunch box of FIG. 1 with the first and second containers rotated partway from the first side by side configuration;

FIG. 4 is an end view of the lunch box of FIG. 1 in the configuration of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an upper perspective view of the lunch box of FIG. 1 with the first and second containers rotated to a first edgewise configuration;

FIG. 6 is a lower perspective view of the lunch box of FIG. 1 in the first edgewise configuration;

FIG. 7 a is a top view of the lunch box of FIG. 1 in the first edgewise configuration;

FIG. 7 b is an end view of the lunch box of FIG. 1 in the first edgewise configuration;

FIG. 8 a is a top view of an alternate embodiment of the lunch box of FIG. 1 having plain bands in the first edgewise configuration;

FIG. 8 b is an end cross sectional view of the lunch box of FIG. 8 a in the first edgewise configuration through the line A-A;

FIG. 9 is an exploded view of the lunch box of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is an upper perspective view of the lunch box of FIG. 10 with the lids of the first and second containers open;

FIG. 11 a is an end view of the lunch box in a first side by side configuration;

FIG. 11 b is an end view of the lunch box with the first and second containers rotated to a position partway between the first side by side configuration and the first edgewise configuration;

FIG. 11 c is an end view of the lunch box in a first edgewise configuration;

FIG. 11 d is an end view of the lunch box with the first and second containers rotated to a position partway between the first edgewise configuration and a second side by side configuration;

FIG. 11 e is an end view of the lunch box in the second side by side configuration;

FIG. 11 f is an end view of the lunch box with the first and second containers rotated to a position partway between the second side by side configuration and a second edgewise configuration; and

FIG. 11 g is an end view of the lunch box in the second edgewise configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to Figures, there is shown a lunch box 10 comprising a first container 12 and a second container 14. The first and second containers 12 and 14 are connected by a plurality of bands 16. The embodiment of FIGS. 8 to 10 is the same as that of FIGS. 1 to 7 other than the bands 16 being patterned in the first embodiment and plain in the second. The operation of the lunch box 10 in both embodiments is the same and will therefore be described with reference to both embodiments.

Each of the first and second containers 12 and 14 has a first side wall 18 and a second side wall 19. The first side walls 18 and 19 are parallel to each other and are connected around the periphery thereof by a plurality of edge walls. In the embodiment shown, the first and second containers 12 and 14 each comprise generally a rectangular prism and the first and second side walls 18 and 19 are therefore connected by four edge walls.

Each of the first and second containers 12 and 14 includes a first edge wall 20 connecting the first and second side walls 18 and 19 along a first side of the container 12 or 14 and a second edge wall 21 connecting the first and second side walls 18 and 19 along a second opposite side of the container 12 or 14. In the embodiment shown, the first and second side edge walls 20 and 21 comprise the longer edge walls and are interconnected by third and fourth edge walls 22 and 23.

Each of the first and second containers 12 and 14 includes one or more internal walls to divide the interior of the container 12 or 14 into a plurality of chambers. In the embodiment shown, there is provided a pair of internal walls such that the container 12 or 14 is divided into three chambers. The internal walls extend from the first edge wall 20 to the second edge wall 21 such that there is defined a central chamber and first and second side chambers. The first side chamber is located adjacent the third edge wall 22 and the second side chamber is located adjacent the fourth edge wall 23.

Each of the first and second containers 12 and 14 includes pivotable lids that can be opened to provide access to the central chamber and the first and second side chambers. The lids are provided in the first and second side walls 18 and 19 and extend across the extents of the corresponding chamber.

The first side wall 18 of each of the first and second containers 12 and 14 includes a central lid 24. The central lid 24 is pivotable about a side adjacent the second edge wall 21 such that the central lid 24 can be pivoted to provide access to the central chamber of the container 12 or 14.

The second side wall 19 of each of the first and second containers 12 and 14 is provided with a first side lid 26 and a second side lid 27. The first side lid 26 is located adjacent the third edge wall 22 and pivots about the edge thereof adjacent the third edge wall 22. The first side lid 26 therefore pivots outwardly as can be seen in FIG. 10 about the edge adjacent the third edge wall 22. The second side lid 27 is located adjacent the fourth edge wall 23 and pivots about the edge thereof adjacent the fourth edge wall 23. The second side lid 27 therefore also pivots outwardly as can be seen in FIG. 10.

The first and second containers 12 and 14 are connected together by a plurality of bands 16 such that the relative positions of the first and second containers 12 and 14 can be changed between a number of configurations. In particular, the first and second containers 12 and 14 can be rotated relative to each other such that the first and second containers 12 and 14 can be located in either a side by side configuration (as shown in FIG. 1) and an edgewise configuration (as shown in FIG. 5). In the side by side configuration, the first side wall 18 of the first container 12 is located adjacent the second side wall 19 of the second container 14, or the second side wall 19 of the first container portion 12 is located adjacent the first side wall 18 of the second, container 14. In the edgewise configuration, the first edge wall 20 of the first container 12 is located adjacent the first edge wall 20 of the second container 14, or the second edge wall 21 of the first container 12 is located adjacent the second edge wall 21 of the second container 12.

In the embodiment shown, there is a first band 30 connected between the first container 12 and the second container 14 and a pair of second bands 31 connected between the second container 14 and the first container 12. The first band 30 is connected at a first end thereof to the second container 14 at location adjacent the junction between., the second side wall 19 and the first edge wall 20. The second end of the first band 30 is connected at a second end thereof to the first container 12 adjacent the junction between the second side wall 19 and the second edge wall 21.

The length of the first band 30 is generally the width of one of the containers 12 and 14 between the first and second edge walls 20 and 21 plus the depth of one of the containers 12 and 14. The first band 30 can therefore extend generally across one of either the first or second side walls 18 and 19 and one of the first or second edge walls 20 or 21.

The first band 30 is located such that it extends between the first and second containers 12 and 14 generally centrally between the third and fourth edge walls 22 and 23. That is, the first band 30 will extend across the first side wall 18 centrally across the central lid 24, or across the second side wall 19 centrally between the first second side lids 26 and 27.

The second bands 31 extend between the first and second containers 12 and 14 on either side of the first band 30. That is, one of the second bands 31 is located between the first band 30 and the third edge wall 22 and the other is located between the first band 30 and the fourth edge wall 23. First ends of the second bands 31 are connected to the first container 12 adjacent the junction between first side wall 18 and the first edge wall 20. Second ends of the second bands 31 are connected to the second container 14 adjacent the junction between the first side wall 18 and the second edge wall 21.

The lengths of the second bands 31 are generally the same as that of the first band 30. The second bands 31 can therefore also extend generally across one of either the first or second side walls 18 and 19 and one of the first or second edge walls 20 or 21.

The first of the second bands 31 is located such that it will extend either across the first side wall 18 on a first side of the central lid 24, or across the second side wall 19 across the first side lid 26. The second of the second bands 31 is located such that it will extend either across the first side wall 18 on a second side of the central lid 24, or across the second side wall 19 across the second side lid 27.

The arrangement of the first and second bands 30 and 31 is such that the first and second containers 12 and 14 can be rotated relative to each other about an axis parallel to the first and second side edges 20 and 21. FIGS. 11 a to 11 g show the possible configurations of the first and second containers 12 and 14 as they move through the range of possible movement. In each configuration, the first and second bands 30 and 31 extend across one of the first or second side walls 18 and one of the first or second edge walls 20 or 21.

In FIG. 11 a, the first and second containers 12 are oriented in a first side by side configuration in which the first side wall 18 of the first container 12 is adjacent the second side wall 19 of the second container 14. The first and second containers 12 and 14 can move through the position of FIG. 11 b to a first edgewise configuration (as shown in FIG. 11 c) in which the first edge wall 20 of the first container 12 is located adjacent the first edge wall 20 of the second container 14. The first and second containers 12 and 14 can then be moved through the configuration of FIG. 11 d. to a second side by side configuration (as shown in FIG. 11 e) in which the second side wall 19 of the first container 12 is adjacent the first side wall 18 of the second container 14. The first and second containers 12 and 14 can then move through the position of FIG. 11 f to a second edgewise configuration (as shown in FIG. 11 g) in, which the second edge wall 21 of the first container 12 is located adjacent the second edge wall 21 of the second container 14.

As can be seen in the Figures, in the first side by side configuration, the first and second side lids 26 and 27 of the first container 12 and the central lid 24 of the second container 14 can be opened to access the chambers within. In the second side by side configuration, the first and second side lids 26 and 27 of the second container 14 and the central lid 24 of the first container 12 can be opened to access the chambers within. In either of the edgewise configurations, the first and second side lids 26 and 27 of the first container 12 and the central lid 24 of the second container 14 can be accessed by placing the lunch box 10 in one orientation, or the first and second side lids 26 and 27 of the second container 14 and the central lid 24 of the first container 12 can be accessed by turning the lunchbox 10 over.

It is therefore possible to access various combinations of the chambers under the lids by altering the configuration of the lunch box 10. It may be, for example that a recess meal is placed in the chambers under the first and second side lids 26 and 27 of the first container 12 and the central lid 24 of the second container 14 and then a lunch time meal is placed under the first and second side lids 26 and 27 of the second container 14 and the central lid 24 of the first container 12. The lids and or containers may also be of different colours or have different markings to indicate the different purposes of the chambers. Such various configurations therefore provide various options for storing different meals as well as providing an interesting variable shape lunch box for children.

It will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the relevant arts that various modifications and improvements may be made to the foregoing embodiments, in addition to those already described, without departing from the basic inventive concepts of the present invention. 

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 9. A lunch box comprising: first and second containers each including first and second opposed side walls and first and second opposed edge walls extending between the first and second side walls, a first band having a first end thereof connected to the second container at a location adjacent a junction between the second side wall and the first edge wall and a second end thereof connected to the first container adjacent a junction between the second side wall and the second edge wall; a pair of second bands located on either side of the first bands, each second band having a first end connected to the first container adjacent a junction between the first side wall and the first edge wall, and a second end connected to the second container adjacent a junction between the first side wall and the second edge wall; and one or more lids provided on each of the first and second side walls of the first container; wherein the first and second containers can be rotated through a first side-by-side configuration, a first edgewise configuration, a second side-by-side configuration, and a second edgewise configuration,
 10. The lunch box in accordance with claim 9, wherein the length of each of the first and second bands is the width of one of the containers between the first and second edge walls plus the depth of one of the containers, such that each of the first and second bands can extend across one of either the first or second side walls and one of the first or second edge walls,
 11. The lunch box in accordance with claim 10, wherein each of the first and second containers comprises one or more internal walls to divide the interior of the container into a plurality of chambers.
 12. The lunch box in accordance with claim 11, wherein there is provided a pair of internal walls extending from the first edge wall to the second edge wall such that there is defined a central chamber and first and second side chambers,
 13. The lunch box in accordance with claim 12, wherein the first and second containers each comprise a rectangular prism such that the first and second containers also include third and fourth edge walls extending between ends of the first and second edge walls.
 14. The lunch box in accordance with claim 13, wherein, each of the first and second containers comprises: a central lid provided in the first side wall pivotable about a side adjacent the second edge wall such that the central lid can be pivoted to provide access to the central chamber:, and first and second side lids provided in the second side wall pivotable to provide access to the first and second side chambers.
 15. The lunch box in accordance with claim 14, wherein the first side lid pivots outwardly about the edge thereof adjacent the third edge wall, and the second side lid pivots outwardly about the edge thereof adjacent the fourth edge wall.
 16. The lunch box in accordance with clam 15, wherein the first hand extends across the first side wall centrally across the central lid, or across the second side wall centrally between the first and second side lids, and the second bands extend either across the first side wall on a side of the central lid or across the second side wall across one of the first or second side lids. 